Gov. LePage sorry for 'Gestapo' slam

Maine Gov. Paul LePage said Monday it was not his “intent to insult anyone” or to “minimize the fact that millions of people were murdered” after he called the Internal Revenue Service the “new Gestapo” in a radio address.

The Republican governor in his Saturday speech blasted the Supreme Court for upholding the health care law, telling listeners the decision “has made America less free. We the people have been told there is no choice. You must buy health insurance or pay the new Gestapo — the I.R.S.”

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LePage on Monday issued a statement responding to the criticism, saying that his reference to Nazi Germany’s secret police “clouded” his message on the individual mandate.

“It was not my intent to insult anyone, especially the Jewish Community, or minimize the fact that millions of people were murdered,” LePage said in the statement. “Clearly, what has happened is that the use of the word Gestapo has clouded my message.”

The governor added that his Gestapo comment should not detract from the fight against the recently upheld Affordable Care Act.

“Obamacare is forcing the American people to buy health insurance or else pay a tax. Our health care system is moving toward one that rations care and negatively impact [sic] millions of Americans,” he said. “We no longer are a free people. With every step that Obamacare moves forward, our individual freedoms are being stripped away by the Federal Government. This should anger all Americans.”